Ipomoea plant named ‘Iposghpur’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ipomoea  cultivar named ‘IPOSGHPUR’ is disclosed, characterized by very dark purple, heart shaped foliage, and a bush forming, non-vining habit. Additionally the new cultivar flowers under short day conditions and produces many lateral branches, without pinching or chemical growth regulators. The new cultivar is an  Ipomoea batatas , typically suited for ornamental container and garden use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘IPOSGHPUR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated from a commercial breeding program under the direction of the inventor, Paul A. Talmadge. The crossing resulting in the new cultivar was made in Fall of 2007, with the seed parent, an unpatented, unnamed proprietary seedling and the pollen parent, also an unpatented, unnamed proprietary seedling. The new variety was discovered by the inventor in April of 2008 at a commercial greenhouse in Lompoc, Calif.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘IPOSGHPUR’ was first performed in a commercial research greenhouse during June of 2008 in Lompoc, Calif. ‘IPOSGHPUR’ has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. Asexual reproduction of the new variety is by vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘IPOSGHPUR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘IPOSGHPUR.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IPOSGHPUR’ as a new and distinct Ipomoea cultivar:

-   -   1. Deep purple, almost black foliage     -   2. Short day flowering     -   3. Bush forming, non-vining habit.     -   4. Small, cordate foliage.     -   5. Very well branched, without pinching or chemical growth         regulator use.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IPOSGHPUR’ are similar to the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘IPOSGHPUR’ differs in producing heart shaped, rather than palmate foliage. Additionally the seed parent has larger leaves of a lighter color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IPOSGHPUR’ are similar to the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘IPOSGHPUR’ produces a deep purple foliage, whereas the pollen parent has light green foliage. Additionally the pollen parent has a vining plant habit, with poor branches, compared to the mounded well branched habit of ‘IPOSGHPUR.’

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IPOSGHPUR’ are best compared to the commercial variety Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,573. Plants of ‘IPOSGHPUR’ are similar to plants of ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘IPOSGHPUR’ form a bush shape, with many short, secondary lateral branches, whereas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’ will develop a vining, trailing habit with age and hot weather. Additionally ‘IPOSGHPUR’ flowers under short day conditions, whereas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’ is day length neutral.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘IPOSGHPUR’ grown in a greenhouse in Lompoc, Calif. This plant is approximately 8 weeks old, from an unrooted cutting, shown in a 6 inch pot pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the Pantone Formula Guide Solid Matte, First Edition 2000-2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘IPOSGHPUR’ plants grown during the Summer months in a greenhouse in Lompoc, Calif., under bright, unshaded conditions. Average day temperatures were approximately 26° C. and the average night temperature was approximately 18° C. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘IPOSGHPUR’ -   Age of the plant described: Approximately 8 weeks from an unrooted     cutting. -   Container size of the plant described: 6 inch commercial container.

PROPAGATION

-   -   -   Propagation method.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to develop roots suitable for             transplanting.—Summer-about six days at an average             temperature of 24° C.; Winter-about ten days at an average             temperature of 24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy.         -   Tuber description.—None observed.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Compact, upright and mounding. -   Height: Measured from top of soil line of pot, approximately 22 cm -   Plant spread: Approximately 45 cm -   Growth rate: Rapid -   Branching characteristics: Very free branching, alternate occurring. -   Primary lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—A range between 16-18 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, with occasional hairs seen with a hand             lens.         -   Color.—Near Pantone 504C.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Internode length.—A range between 0.5-1.5 cm.         -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Occasional small raised bump at             node at base of branch. -   Secondary lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—Ranging from 2-4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, with occasional hairs seen with a hand             lens.         -   Color.—Pantone 504C at base, gradually changing to Pantone             384C at tip.         -   Strength.—Pliable.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Quantity per 8 week old plant.—Approximately 20.         -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—None observed. -   New shoot growth characteristics:     -   -   Color.—Pantone 384C with faint Pantone 504C along margins.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Average length.—Approximately 12-13 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 9-9.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Cordate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire, with tiny hairs visible with a hand lens.         -   Aspect.—Folded upwards slightly along midrib at base,             flattening toward apex.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 10. -   Color:     -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Pantone 385C.         -   Young foliage under side.—Pantone 385C.         -   Mature foliage upper side.—Pantone 439C.         -   Mature foliage under side.—Pantone 5115C. -   Venation:     -   -   Type.—Pinnate: arcuate to reticulate at base.         -   Venation color upper side.—Pantone 5115C.         -   Venation color under side.—Pantone 5115C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Longest petioles approximately 13-14 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm at base, 0.3 cm at top.         -   Texture.—Very slightly pubescent, especially on new growth.         -   Color.—Pantone 5115C.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly curved.

FLOWER

-   None observed, as measurements were taken from plants produced     during the long days of summer.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: No seeds/fruits observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     the normal pests and diseases of Ipomoea has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately     2° C. Good high temperature tolerance, observed to at least 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatas plant named ‘IPOSGHPUR’ as herein illustrated and described. 